Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has opened up candidly on the incoming arrival of Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim, who will soon take charge of Manchester United.
Silva candidly admitted he cannot in all honesty wish Ruben Amorim well in his next job but believes the Old Trafford club are getting a terrific coach.
Himself a former Benfica academy player, Silva has plenty of connections to Sporting – not least his mum and some of his best friends who support the club – and believes Amorim’s side have become a veritable ‘machine’ under the current regime. The City midfielder had the distinction of scoring twice in this stadium in a 5-0 win here two years ago, and the Portugal international is expecting a much tougher test for City on Tuesday against a team that are flying in their league with a 100 per cent record.
“Before he arrived Sporting didn’t win the league for nearly 20 years but since he’s been there with the president and the sporting director it looks like they all went in the same direction,” Bernardo said.
“When that happens and people are competent and have the same idea and go the same way, the chances of doing well are much higher.
“As a manager tactically, you can see that he’s really good, the way he prepares his teams. Sporting are a big machine right now. I only have compliments because they’ve been flying in the Portuguese league. It’s going to be very tough to beat them.
“In terms of him going to Manchester United, I don’t wish him well but he deserves to be in one of the best clubs in the world right now because of the work that he has done for the last few years. He will be a rival but I am glad someone else from Portugal is in the best league in the world.”